Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Russia
Russia: Distribution of population between different poverty lines was 20.47 million people in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
20.47 million people
Change on year
down 12.9%
World rank
13th
of 120 countries
All-time high
27.51 million people
in 2013
All-time low
1.70 million people
in 1999
Years of data
26
1993–2020
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Russia, 1993–2020
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2020, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Russia stood at 20.47 million people.
The figure is down 12.9% on the previous year and down 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, distribution of population between different poverty lines in Russia peaked at 27.51 million people in 2013 and was at its lowest, 1.70 million people, in 1999.
That places Russia 13th out of 120 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Russia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 8.50 million people | — |
| 1996 | 8.02 million people | -5.6% |
| 1997 | 5.20 million people | -35.1% |
| 1998 | 4.03 million people | -22.6% |
| 1999 | 1.70 million people | -57.9% |
| 2000 | 2.19 million people | +29.0% |
| 2001 | 3.25 million people | +48.6% |
| 2002 | 4.33 million people | +33.2% |
| 2003 | 7.93 million people | +83.3% |
| 2004 | 9.02 million people | +13.7% |
| 2005 | 11.75 million people | +30.3% |
| 2006 | 14.52 million people | +23.6% |
| 2007 | 18.92 million people | +30.2% |
| 2008 | 22.50 million people | +18.9% |
| 2009 | 20.56 million people | -8.6% |
| 2010 | 23.73 million people | +15.5% |
| 2011 | 24.69 million people | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 26.56 million people | +7.6% |
| 2013 | 27.51 million people | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 26.25 million people | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 23.40 million people | -10.9% |
| 2016 | 22.60 million people | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 22.22 million people | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 21.71 million people | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 23.50 million people | +8.2% |
| 2020 | 20.47 million people | -12.9% |
Russia compared with similar countries
- Russia's 20.47 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.96 million people, 4.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Russia's 20.47 million people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.67 million people, 12.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.49 million people | 1.70 million people | 8.50 million people | 5 |
| 2000s | 11.50 million people | 2.19 million people | 22.50 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.22 million people | 21.71 million people | 27.51 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.47 million people | 20.47 million people | 20.47 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Russia
More poverty & inequality data for Russia
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 5 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.45 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 3,167 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -7.65 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 30.47 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 30.5% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is distribution of population between different poverty lines in Russia?
- Distribution of population between different poverty lines in Russia was 20.47 million people in 2020, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Russia?
- The highest recorded value was 27.51 million people in 2013.
- What is the lowest distribution of population between different poverty lines recorded in Russia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.70 million people in 1999.
- How does Russia rank for distribution of population between different poverty lines?
- Russia ranks 13th out of 120 countries with data for 2020.
- Is distribution of population between different poverty lines rising or falling in Russia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Russia data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Distribution of population between different poverty lines. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in households with an income or consumption above $40 per day.